Steppenwolf Announces Full Cast Of TRUE WEST

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the full casting for its revival production of Sam Shepard's True West. Longtime ensemble member Randall Arney directs Steppenwolf's first revival of the play that launched the theatre onto the national scene in 1982. Reimagined with a new generation of Steppenwolf artists, the 2019 production stars previously announced ensemble members Jon Michael Hill (CBS's Elementary; Steppenwolf, Lincoln Center, and Spike Lee's Pass Over) and Namir Smallwood (Lincoln Center's Pass Over and Pipeline). Joining Hill and Smallwood are ensemble member and original cast member Francis Guinan and celebrated Chicago actor Jacqueline Williams.

Previews begin July 5, 2019 and the production runs through August 25, 2019 in the Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. Opening night is Sunday, July 14 at 6:00pm. Press Performances are Sunday, July 14 at 6pm and Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30pm. Single tickets ($20-$96) are on sale April 26, 2019 through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26 at 11am.

In 1982, Steppenwolf exploded onto the American Theatre scene with its now legendary production of Sam Shepard's True West. This American classic traces the sometimes violent and always volatile relationship of Austin and Lee, estranged brothers who find themselves trapped together in their mother's empty house with not much more than a typewriter and a set of golf clubs. In its first Steppenwolf revival, we re-imagine Shepard's masterpiece through the eyes of our new generation of Steppenwolf artists, with a little help from those who came before. Steppenwolf's original production of True West opened in 1982 with then fairly unknown actors Jeff Perry (Austin) and John Malkovich (Lee) playing the leads, alongside ensemble members Francis Guinan and Laurie Metcalf, directed by Gary Sinise. With Sam Shepard's approval, Steppenwolf's production transferred to Off-Broadway, where it opened at Cherry Lane Theatre in October 1982 with Gary Sinise taking on the role of 'Austin.' It closed on August 4, 1984 after 762 performances. A television movie of the stage play, featuring Sinise and Malkovich, aired on the PBS series "American Playhouse" in January 1984.